The National Exit Test (NExT) is likely to be held in August 2025 for the final year MBBS students of the 2020 batch. NEET vs NExT exam, which is tough to crack? Read here.
NExT Exam: It seems like a never-ending debate whether the exam conducting body will replace the MBBS Exit Examination in place of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Postgraduate(NEET PG 2024). If going by the news agency PTI report, the National Exit Test (NExT) is likely to be held in August 2025 for the final year MBBS students of the 2020 batch. “Going by the deliberations being held between the health ministry and NMC officials, the NExT Step 1 is likely to be held in August 2025 for the final year MBBS students of the 2020 batch,” an official source said, news agency PTI reported. To recall our readers, the National Medical Commission(NMC) has not confirmed the exact date and time for the NExT examination. Students are advised to keep track of the NMC’s official website.
Why is NExT held?
NExT shall serve as a licentiate examination for medical graduates in India and determine the eligibility and ranking for of admission to postgraduate medical education in the country. It will also be a screening exam for foreign medical graduates who want to practise in India.
NExT Exam Deferred? Here’s What NMC has to say!
Last month, the National Medical Commission deferred the exam for the final year MBBS students of the 2019 batch. “All the stakeholders are hereby informed that the National Exit Test (NEXT) examination is deferred on the advice of the Ministry, dated 11.07.2023, till further directions from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,” NMC in an official notification stated.
NExT Exam Deferred Notice – PDF
Around 65,000 students took admission in MBBS courses across the country in 2020. According to a data analysis by the health ministry, of these, 62,000 students will be eligible to appear for the August exam in 2025. Presently, there is no uniformity in the MBBS course completion period in the country because of which around 3,000 students will not be able to appear for the NExT part 1. Sources said that NExT Step 2 will be held in February, PTI reported. Those who won’t be able to appear in the August 2025 exam can appear in the February exam. Those who fail to clear NExT exam Step 1 or are not satisfied with their ranks can also appear in the February exam.
There will be just one counselling for admission to PG courses in a year. However, students can appear for medical PG counselling for the next session based on their NExt February exam. As per the National Exit Test Regulations-2023, the NExT Step 2 results shall be declared as only “pass or fail” based on the acquisition of appropriate competence that is being evaluated. The marks from NExT Step 2 will be considered to prepare a merit list for admission into broad speciality PG seats. The NExT Step 1 shall be a theory examination and the questions shall be one or more than one type of multiple-choice type with the examinations being conducted online.
What Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) regulations 2023 pdf say about NExT Exam?
Announcing the proposed academic calendar in the Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) regulations 2023 pdf, the National Medical Commission(NMC) stated that the NExT Step 1 examination will be held in February 2028. If going by the schedule, the 2023-2024 MBBS students will be the first batch to take the examination. (Students are requested to go through the regulation pdf carefully)
Competency Based Medical Education Curriculum (CBME) Regulation, 2023 – PDF Direct Link
With the announcement of the (CBME) regulations 2023 pdf, aspirants are confused as to which batch will be the first to take the NExT examination. According to various media reports, the MBBS batch of 2024 will be the first batch to take the NExT. However, an official notification is awaited. For more details, students are advised o go through the official website of NMC.
NEET vs NExT Exam: Which is Tough to Crack?
While inaugurating the different units including an emergency department, at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) Rae Bareli, Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya assured that the newly introduced NExT will not be more tougher than the National Eligibility Cumulative Entrance Test (NEET). However, aspirants will get their MBBS degrees from their individual universities and colleges. But in order to be eligible for a postgraduate seat, they will be required to clear the NExT examination.
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